Overview & Reviews

No matter how you slice it, the departed Suzuki Reno was basically a Suzuki Forenza wagon with a slightly more stylish body. It shared that car's basic architecture, engine and transmission. A four-door compact hatchback, the Reno should make for an affordable used car with plenty of interior space and lots of features. Don't expect class-leading performance, however, as the Reno lagged behind the competition in virtually every driving-related category -- even fuel economy.

Most Recent Suzuki Reno

The Suzuki Reno debuted for the 2005 model year. With its emphasis on value, the Reno's long list of standard features took center stage. Many modern compact cars come standard with power door locks and windows, a tilt wheel and other convenience features, but the Reno went a little further by offering such features as a micron air-filtration system for the cabin, a CD stereo with MP3 capability and a height- and lumbar-adjustable driver seat -- all without requiring the buyer to check a single box on the options list.

Clearly the Suzuki Reno has excellent value as a used car. Still, "excellent value" doesn't exactly mean comfort or power. While the EX trim level was loaded and included features like leather seats, remote keyless entry and cruise control, the Reno in any trim offered barely adequate performance. This was particularly true in the acceleration department, with subpar fuel economy adding insult to injury. Handling was also less than spectacular, as Suzuki endowed the Reno with a soft, smooth ride at the expense of cornering ability. However, this is a trade-off that the average consumer will likely appreciate.

Because the 127-horsepower, 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine has to work so hard to keep up, a good deal of engine noise makes its way into the cabin. Competitors like the Mazda 3 are more refined and quicker by comparison.

The Reno's interior came up short as well when compared to other domestic and import-branded small cars. The materials were of low quality and many panels simply didn't fit correctly. We suggest that shoppers looking for an inexpensive used hatchback skip the Reno and check out more viable choices.

Changes were minimal during the Suzuki Reno's run. Model year 2006 brought the addition of a standard tilt steering wheel and new seat fabrics, while '07 saw the inclusion of a standard tire pressure monitoring system for all trim levels. Unfortunately for audiophiles, the formerly standard eight-speaker stereo was dropped altogether for '08, leaving a meager four-speaker unit in its stead.

User Reviews:

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  Smart Package - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Saverio - July 2 - 1:36 pm

  You couldnt find a better car for less money than the Suzuki Reno. It has all the fixings of a luxury car at an economic price. If you like that go test drive one, pt for the manual transmission. You wont be sorry.

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  Good buy for the average driver - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Phillip Myers - June 17 - 8:20 am

  I just purchased my Reno a month ago and have really enjoyed driving it. While not as good as my Focus in the handling department, the ride quality seems to be on par. Once you get used to the not so tight handling, you can have fun in this car. I would recommend the Reno to anyone who wants a comfortable, affordable vehicle for the daily commute. The standard features are awesome, but I would recommend skipping the automatic, unless you like slow acceleration and a buzzy engine.

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  Quality Car - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By JING - August 27 - 7:16 pm

  The Suzuki Reno has a great air conditioner, its cold air at start-up, and tinted windows, something the other small cars do not seem to have. These things have a lot of value in the Southwest desert. It runs smoothly and is very quiet at and above the posted speed limit on the highway. The seats are comfortable and the audio is great. It comes standard with 4 wheel disc brakes and good sized 15" tires.

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  Reno 2005 - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By Jacqueline Range - June 23 - 3:43 am

  The vehicle is very easy to handle on the road. Drives smooth. Not a very big car but plenty of room. Great looks. Two thumbs up!

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  Suzuki Reno? Something very special!!! - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By LS - Atlanta - June 18 - 9:26 pm

  I bought this car few days ago and I wanted to share how excited I was driving this car. From afar the European design catches the drivers eyes. Very roomy, sporty, strongly built, with a predictable steering when strolling or cruising on highway. High quality for the crafted interior as well as the sound system. Comfort gets a 10 as well. The base model comes with a lot of "power everything". The engine performs outstanding. I think it is a great, great value for the money.

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  Renos great mileage and Comfort - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By Robert Garrison - May 1 - 1:13 am

  I kept looking at that Reno sitting up a pedistal outside the dearlership for about a month. The looks and the price was very attractive. I decided to stop and see how the performance was and to tell you the truth. I was actually surprised by what that 2.0 liter will do. If your not afraid to put your foot in it, it will get you down the road quick. Anyway, I am 62" and I fit in that car like Jim Carey says, "like a glovvvveee". It handles real well, and the mileage...OMG...I go to Illinois from Alabama and I dont stop for gas until I get to Champagne which is like 450 miles from Huntsville. I love this car. Great car!

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  Great Car - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By nhurta - January 25 - 8:53 pm

  I looked at 3 different cars that looked just like the Reno, and in my opinion nothing compares to it. This car handles better than the other ones I looked at, and is more comfortable.

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  The Most Power and Style for the Money - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By JC - October 18 - 4:30 pm

  The Reno is a great car with Italian design. It has more power than the Toyota Yaris, Honda Fit, Scion xA or XB, and the Chevrolet Aveo. It has more standard features and a longer warranty as well. I bought this car for well below invoice. I love this car. You can not find a better value. Compare it piece by piece to the others and you will see.

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  2005 Suzuki Reno LX - 2005 Suzuki Reno
  By KansasCity - February 18 - 6:06 am

  Hello, I purchased my Suzuki Reno just about a month ago and I have had nothing but great compliments from everyone. If you are looking for a good reliable car this is it. For all the standard features that came with it, it was a great buy. I realy enjoy driving it. For as small as it looks it has a lot of room in the inside. I looked around at a lot of cars , but the Suzuki Reno had everthing that a lot more expensive cars didnt for the very reasonable price. Yes it may not get top gas mileage, but it gets good mileage. I live where it snows and it just snowed a few days ago, it drove and handled very well. All I can say is before you make up your mind on a car, do yourself a favor go test drive a Reno!

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  I Love the Little Car - 2006 Suzuki Reno
  By David - February 15 - 8:30 pm

  I looked at the Reno as a way to save gas money and miles on my "toy" that is horible on gas and was racking up too many miles. I like the usefulness of the hatch, the features, and best of all the price. I have not had any real problems with the car with the exception of a computer reflash that fixed the idle problem. I hit it a bit on performance (see below), but the car is fun to drive and performs up to expectations and then sum when compared to the direct competition. I still like to drive my expensive sports car, but dont miss it too much on comutes in the reno. Oh, its gas milage is realy good. I keep track of it. I geuss Suzuki doesnt overblow the numbers like most do.